Dhana Sar is a small town on the N-50 National Highway in Balochistan, about 35 km from Zhob and roughly 130 km from Dera Ismail Khan, known locally for the steep, winding descent the road makes through the hills at this point. It sits on one of the routes linking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Quetta, and it is also, as of 2026, on a stretch of highway where travel after dark is officially restricted. This guide covers the road itself and the rules currently in force.
Where is Dhana Sar and what road runs through it?
Dhana Sar lies on the N-50, which runs 531 km from Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Kuchlak near Quetta, passing through Zhob along the way. The section around Dhana Sar is mountainous, and the road drops through a series of hairpin bends as it descends from the higher ground toward the plains, a stretch drivers and truckers on this route describe as the most demanding part of the journey.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | On the N-50, Zhob–D.I. Khan section |
| Distance from Zhob | About 35 km |
| Distance from D.I. Khan | About 130 km |
| Total N-50 length | 531 km, D.I. Khan to Kuchlak |
| Terrain | Steep, winding hill descent |
| Current rule | No travel between 6pm and 6am (check locally, subject to change) |
The road and the descent
The N-50 was progressively upgraded and sealed over the 2000s and 2010s, including the section linking Qila Saifullah to Zhob, and it is a properly built two-lane highway rather than a track. The Dhana Sar stretch is the part travellers remember: a run of tight bends carrying the road down a steep hillside, with drops on one side in places. It is a normal, paved mountain road for a competent driver in daylight and reasonable weather, but it is not one to drive fast, tired or in the dark, and this stretch has been affected by landslides after heavy rain in past years, closing the highway until crews cleared it.
Stops around Zhob
Zhob is the main town on this route and the practical place to break the journey, refuel and get food before or after the Dhana Sar section. It sits at the junction of routes toward Quetta and toward D.I. Khan, and has long served as a staging post for traffic and trade moving between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Beyond fuel and a meal, this is not a route to plan sightseeing stops on at present, given the current security situation described below.
The daylight-only travel rule
Since late March 2025, the deputy commissioner of Zhob has ordered that public transport and, in practice, all travellers avoid the Zhob–Dera Ismail Khan section of the N-50 between 6pm and 6am, a restriction imposed alongside similar night travel bans on other Balochistan highways including the Sibi road, the Quetta–Taftan highway and the Loralai–D.G. Khan road (Dawn, Express Tribune). The measure followed a string of attacks on road transport in Balochistan, including militants stopping buses and removing passengers, and it has been described as in force "until further notice" rather than for a fixed period.
There is no confirmed indication that this restriction has been lifted as of September 2026, so anyone travelling this road should assume it is still in effect and confirm the current position with local authorities in Zhob or D.I. Khan before setting out, rather than relying on any fixed timetable. Plan to complete the Dhana Sar section, and the wider Zhob–D.I. Khan road, entirely in daylight.
Is it safe to travel this route?
The N-50 runs through part of Balochistan that the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to. Pakistani travellers, including transporters and families with business in the area, do still use this road, but do so in daylight, keep informed of the current security picture in Zhob and the surrounding districts, and follow whatever local restrictions are posted on the day. Overseas visitors should note that travelling here against their own government's advice can affect travel insurance. For the wider picture on road rules across the province, see our guide to the Balochistan night travel ban and our overview of whether Balochistan is safe to travel currently.
Should you plan a trip on this road?
This is a working transit route rather than a scenic drive to build a trip around at present. If you have a genuine reason to travel between Zhob and D.I. Khan, budget the trip so the Dhana Sar section and the rest of the highway are covered well within daylight hours, keep the vehicle in good order for a steep, winding road, and check the latest local advice before you leave rather than assuming the situation is unchanged from any date given here.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Dhana Sar?
On the N-50 highway in Balochistan, about 35 km from Zhob and 130 km from Dera Ismail Khan, at a point where the road makes a steep, winding descent.
Is night travel banned on the Zhob to D.I. Khan road?
Yes, since March 2025 authorities have restricted travel on this section between 6pm and 6am, alongside similar bans on other Balochistan highways. Confirm the current position locally before travelling, since these orders can change.
What is the road condition like at Dhana Sar?
It is a paved, two-lane highway with a series of tight hairpin bends descending a steep hillside. It has occasionally been closed by landslides after heavy rain.
Is this route currently recommended for tourists?
No. It passes through an area the UK government advises against all travel to, and it is best treated as a route for necessary journeys, completed in daylight, rather than a sightseeing drive.
